How to Be a Bankruptcy Lawyer

Bankruptcy attorneys help their clients go through the difficult and complex process of bankruptcy. Their clients might be individuals or businesses.

The job of the bankruptcy attorneys?

Assisting clients in every step of the way, from filing petitions for bankruptcy to going to hearings and getting the decision of the court.

Some clients might need assistance even after a bankruptcy declaration, for different motions or for reopening their bankruptcy cases. Many people and businesses file for bankruptcy every year under different chapters of the law. You can have a career as a bankruptcy attorney by following these steps.

1. Finish four years of college and earn your degree.

2. Take the LSAT test. Designed especially for prospective law students, you won’t get into any law school without taking and scoring well on the LSAT.

3. Look for law schools and apply to one or several of them to ensure you have a safety net in case your first option doesn’t accept you. Understand and stay on top of the application deadlines and procedures, as they might differ from school to school.

4. Enroll in a law school and pass your exams. Study especially hard in courses dealing with bankruptcy law and bankruptcy cases. You will need the information once you start practicing and taking on cases. Bankruptcy attorneys deal with people’s finances and even people’s lives in a way, so make sure to prepare as thoroughly as you can so you can assist your clients through a challenging process in their lives.

5. Graduate law school and pass the bar exam in your state so you can practice law. Get listed as one of the bankruptcy attorneys in your area by the American Bar Association.

6. Start taking on bankruptcy cases. Accept only simple cases in the beginning to ensure you learn the procedures very well before taking on bigger cases. Once you feel you have enough experience, you can take on more complex cases. Take on only business bankruptcy cases after you’ve become an expert in the matter. Business bankruptcy proves more complicated, involves a lot of parties and procedures, and requires you to deal with the owners of a business as well as the destinies of their employees.

7. Come across as friendly and handle clients carefully. Good bankruptcy attorneys get clients because they get recommendations from former clients. Remember that your clients face very tough financial times and might feel on edge. Treat them carefully and try your best to leave a good impression. They might feel despair, but explain that bankruptcy does not spell the end of life but rather the chance of a fresh start. Always remind clients of their rights and obligations in a bankruptcy process and stand ready to offer them further assistance in the future if necessary.